"The town of Samal in Bataan Province, part of the Philippines, is not an especially notable place in the archipelago of islands -- it is best known for producing cookies, and exporting seafood and vegetables.
But there was an unusual stir early Thursday in the small town, 75 miles (120 km) from Manila, as excitement from a singing competition miles away engulfed the city.
Samal now boasts one other famous export – Jessica Sanchez, one of the two finalists in this year's "American Idol" competition.
Sanchez, a 16-year-old singer of Filipino-Mexican descent, broke the hearts of American-Filipinos and those within the country when her competitor, Phillip Phillips, was crowned America's 11th "Idol" instead. For weeks, "Idol" fever has run high in the Southeast Asian nation, with the young singer even receiving messages of support from the Philippines President Benigno Aquino and the country's vice-president.
As early as 6:00am local time Thursday -- hours before the results of the competition were announced -- neighbors and friends gathered out on the street where Sanchez's ancestral house sits, and where her mother, a Filipino now residing in the US, grew up. Watching the results, they were hopeful the 16-year-old would win the competition.
"Whether Jessica wins or loses, she has already won in our hearts," Luzviminda Medina, a 65-year-old resident of the town who says she is a distant relative of Sanchez, said."
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